Many families are depending on your prayers for the construction of this drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. 

Each morning the men from the rehab center come work on the construction site.

From the well, located at the bottom of the property, pipe lines were laid off, dug by hand up this steep mountain, and then tested to see how much water the well will provide.  Keep praying!

Rehab Director Arturo and Bob want chopping with machetes to find the best spot for the septic tanks.

The men work hard on the site.  Remember, these men are not just trying to quit drinking or doing drugs they are changing their life styles.  Manual labor is a rude awakening for many of them.

Of course Arturo's boys love to come spend time on the mountain.  These goats should soon provide milk for the center.

The views are extraordinary!  Look south...

...look west...

...look north...

...then look east toward the south part of La Esperanza.   Each view provides a panorama of God's great outdoors!

 
I close with a precious site!  Recently Benjamin and Paula's family purchased a milk cow for their family!  They live next to the rehab center.  What a thrill to experience their high emotion as they reported the birth of twin heifers! 

Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice!

Our son Joshua is very excited to have attained a new step up in his aviation career. 

He recently spent two weeks in Texas receiving training to be a "Captain in Command" pilot.  He has flown as co-captain for four years in a corporate Citation Jet.  

Erin, Josh's wife, sometimes takes a break from being mom to fly contract in this airplane keeping up her piloting skills. 

Their son Jackson is now walking, starting to talk and as precious a little boy you will ever meet.  Obviously, we love them all. 

Jesus did not entrust his ministry to independent believers - he established a spiritual family.  We as believers are His family, His church.

Hugs, emotion packed greetings and dozens of conversations to get re-acquainted filled the Evangelical Holiness Church's 2010 annual meeting.  Since 1914 the thread of the Gospel's influence through World Gospel Mission and its pioneering missionaries has born fruit.  Two-hundred twenty churches from all parts of Honduras were represented in the annual business meetings.   

An official ministry for the family was established and presented during this year's annual meeting.  Kathy served on a panel discussion with Fatima de Pacheco (pastor's wife and professional counselor), Dr. Belzasar Nuñez (pastor and director of theological studies of the national church) and Natanael Padilla (university professor and professional counselor).

Ordination of three pastors was a great part of the meetings.  Our cohort, Larry Overholt ministering in Choluteca southern Honduras with his wife Angie are pastoring the Shalom Evangelical Holiness Church. 

The second pastor ordained by our national church was Mario Oliva.  Pastor Mario ministers to the inmates of our city's prison and encourages several churches in the surrounding villages.

The third pastor that was conferred the title of reverend is AMSLA, Latin American Holiness Mission Agency, Missionary to Mexico, Danny Hilton Pineda.  Danny, his wife Pastor Carminda and son Samuel serve in their second church plant in the Bajia of Mexico.  This pastoral couple pastored the More Than Conquerors Evangelical Holiness Church in 2004-2007. 

In Christ's Family we are brothers and sisters. 

The New Testament regards the duty of living by example as a necessity in the Christian faith.  Whatever might happen to us as brothers and sisters in the faith, spread all over the world, let us fulfill our role living the faith and praying for one another, giving so that others might hear the message of freedom. 

January 19, 2010:  There were three things on my heart as I start this year: (1) to teach the new discipleship book, (2) to teach them how to pray, and  (3) to invite them to accept Jesus as their Savior.  I knew in His timing it would happen.  I've been praying for the words to say and the opportunity to speak into their lives.  I started the Child Evangelism Fellowship devotional booklet a week or so ago, and the students loved it!!!  They beg me to teach the "Wonder" book, and cheer when I announce that it's time to pull it out.

Yesterday, we had a great discussion about sin, how we are separated from God, and how Jesus is the only way.  The Lord had been really working on their hearts, and the fourth graders have been very excited and sincerely listening during our discussions.  Their hearts were open and sensitive.  Today I took them outside to sit under the trees.  I started by praying as we most always start, and then explained what the devotional had been about yesterday.  I explained how some people think that if they are "clean" on the outside, then they are good with God.  (I don't remember their exact words, but it went something like this)

                "What would happen if I filled my water bottle with bleach and said, 'Here, Carlos, drink this!'".

                "What's bleach?"   

                "A chemical to clean with".

                "Ohhhhh.....".  "I would die".

                "But what if I washed the outside of the bottle with soap and water?"

                "I would die, Ms." 

                "But what if I washed all around it really, really clean, and dried it perfectly?" 

                "He'd still die", said one of the other students.

                "You mean that even if the outside is perfect, in your perfect school uniforms, that it doesn't matter if the inside is dirty?" 

Next, we discussed the difference between believing that God exists and having a relationship with Him.   "I can know that Carlos Javier's mom exists, but I'm not friends with her.  I don't have a relationship with her like I do with Ms. Stephanie." 

Finally, I explained how Jesus came and took our punishment. "What if Carlos stole something from the school?    And just as he was about to get an Incident Report in school, Dario would say, 'Give me the Incident Report instead of Carlos."  Their eyes got big.  "Because Dario loves Carlos so much, he will take Carlos' punishment.  That's what Jesus did.  He came and said, 'Angie, I love you.  I'm going to take your punishment.  Sara, I love you.  Jireh, I love you.  I came to this earth for you.  David, I love you.  Cristian, I came to take your punishment'."   

I ended with stating that each person has to make a decision to accept God's offer of cleaning and forgiveness.  "When we stand before God, he will say ‘What did you decide?'  We will either spend eternity with him or without him."  Miguel said, "I want to choose God!"    I led in prayer, and some of the students repeated after me.  Later, I asked each student individually if they wanted to have God be their forgiver and helper, and four students told me it was the first time to ask Jesus to forgive them.   David (his parent's are Lenca Indian missionaries) was happy when I told him that some of his classmates had accepted Jesus for the first time.  We made a deal that we would pray for his classmates and we would help them grow to know Jesus more.  We even shook hands on it!      

"Jesus, did you see Miguel's face?"  Of course you did. His whole heart was seen in his eyes.  As I talked about Jesus, his whole being was intently listening.  You could see his heart in his eyes.  He knew this was serious.  It was the answer he needed.  He was ready for it.  Here was the hope his heart wanted.   His sincerity was evident.  Afterwards, I asked him, "Miguel, did you ask Jesus to forgive you?"   "Yes." "Was it your first time, or had you done it in the past?"  "It was my first time."  Daniela Ordonez said, "It was my first time."  Marco Antonio commented, "I think it was my first time...(thinking, thinking)... it was my first time." 

Vale la pena!!!!   It is SO worth it!  I get so frustrated, and discouraged with teaching.  But when I'm in my right mind, I realize that all the stress, uncertainty, changing of classes, misbehavior, everything is worth it!  WORTH IT!!!!...to have these three students choose Jesus.  And to have all the other seeds planted in each students' heart.

Carlos Javier is so excited about you, God!!  He was my shadow today.  He is always talking about choosing you.  I sometimes say, (after someone uses your name in vain) "Don't say that please, that's my best friend."   Now Carlos says "Don't say that, that's my best friend."  He's matured so much, and taken on a strong leadership role in the classroom.   He disciplines the kids for me.  "Miguel, don't complain.  Sara, be quiet!  Ms. is talking!  Daniela, can you please be quiet?  Sit down, sit down!!" 

Thank you Jesus!

Visiting, teaching and encouraging are all a part of Jesus' call to go and make disciples. 

Carlos and Rafael took the lead in teaching a discipleship section on how we got the Bible. 

But you know that where there are youth there are activities!

Let's have some fun!

Let's play "One lemon, five lemons and half a lemon!"

Let's sing...Un pollo, un pollo, un pollo con una ala.

A chicken, a chicken, a chicken with one wing...two wings...a foot...two feet..

Oh boy Kathy, you are probably saying, you've gone too far!  Well, just remember missionaries are real people and love to have fun as much as anyone!

Bob had a blast helping the kids with their soccer game.

The youth of this community had started to attend our church's Saturday night youth meeting and Sunday church.  When school ended in late October they all went home (four hours away).  So the leaders and youth of the More Than Conquerors Church invaded their community in early December with our antics. 

The parents enjoyed our sharing as much as the youth.  

Our group slept in the rooms pictured above, their grade school.  We ate on the porch of one of their homes and enjoyed the view towards El Salvador.  The River Lempa creates beautiful clouds in the early morning hours. 

Before leaving for home our troop took time to visit Antonio and family, an ex-resident of the Samaritan Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center.  The cold soft drinks that they served us were very refreshing as we suffered the heat of this sea level area. 

It was only natural to take time to pray for this family.  They all work together to earn their living making hammocks.

One of God's promises for Antonio and family says, My God will supply all your needs acording to his riches in glory.  Pray with us for this family and those we encouraged in their faith.

Discovery.  All of us need to learn and grow, gaining knowledge of new aspects of life and its meaning.  

Our group of quality young adults, Erica, Tyler and Sarah, Volunteers in Action with World Gospel Mission, had the pleasure of taking a leisurely four hour trip from our house to the Mayan Indian Ruins in Copan, western Honduras to discover history up close and personal.  

The history within these ruins provides evidence of how God has placed a void within the human species that can only be filled by Him, our Creator.  The Mayan people worshipped the things God made but seem to have lacked understanding about the reality of God's world.  The Bible says, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse" Romans 1:20.

Copan Ruins is a city with an identifying emblem glyph of a bat.

Information from the actual ruins say it was the Cama Zotz, killer bat: a bat associated with the underworld, death and sacrifice.  Gargoyles throughout the ruins depict a reverence, if not worship, of created things: parrots, fish, birds, and large cats.

Their renowned "ball court" is clouded with worship, escape from death and attempts of victory over the enemy who could destroy. 

The Rosa Lila Temple has been escavated since Bob and I moved to southwestern Honduras.  Its distinct red colors set it apart from all the other stone buildings. 

A life-size replica stands in the center of Copan Ruins Museum. 

These young ladies of present day Copan need to know the Truth.  All people need to understand the way of salvation from the guilt of sin through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Our ministry team in Honduras thanks you for your prayers for the people that we serve daily.  May God be glorified by our lives.

 "For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.  How great are your works, O Lord, how profound your thoughts!"Psalms 92:4-5.

With hands raised and hearts full, our congregation have thanks to our God for this year of life and its blessings.

The special service of thanksgiving to our great God was held November 22, 2009.

As always, the proclamation of God's Word is a central part of our worship time.

As missionaries we are very thankful for the excellent pastoral care that Raul and Nolvia bring to the More Than Conquerors Evangelical Holiness Church.  Pray with us for the process of building strong spiritual leaders for our congregation.

Over these twenty years of ministry in Honduras, Bob and I have been the recipients of World Gospel Mission's helping hands ministry called "Men With Vision". 

WGM Missionary Mark Dunbar is working now with the Honduras Evangelical Holiness Church (IESH) to promote this ministry in Honduras. 

Today we ask you to join us in praising God for men of faith that want to assist others of the faith.  

The men of the More Than Conquerors "Men With Vision" traveled four hours on rough roads in order to help the Magdalena IESH build their parsonage.

River sand and rock had to be harvested.  

Most all the construction work in Honduras is still done by hand. 

Tyler, our WGM volunteer, got a piece of the action!

The objectives of going and serving were met.  Unity among our men increased and their talents were shared in order to increase the Kingdom of God.

Check out these precious faces!  These are 1st grade and kindergarden students, eight of our eleven scholarship students. Kathy and Volunteer in Action, Tyler Fraizer are pictured here with Samaria, Michell, Karla, Noelia, Javier, Johan, David y Daniel. 

Honduras is experiencing some difficult political times.  Tegucigalpa, capital of Honduras, fills our daily news with political problems. 

Recently, presidental candidate, Pepe Lobo, visited La Esperanza, landing his helicopter on our church property.

Even though our world would prefer to tell us otherwise, trying to keep our eyes focused on the bad or evil, our God is still worshipped and adored!

Since 1989, the last Sunday in September has been celebrated as the "Day of the Bible".  Honduras' national congress decreed the Holy Scriptures as a principal guide for Christians in Honduras. 

On September 27^th, 2009 our "More Than Conquerors Church" families left the daily norm...

...and took to the streets to express their love of God and His Holy Word.

Our church joined many other churches of La Esperanza to declare our faith to the whole city's population.

Our voices rang out praises as we walked the one and one-half miles from the entrance of town to the downtown city square.

The moms and youth of our church worked hard to prepare Noah's arc.

 Several of our church members walked the parade for the first time.  Church leaders Ronney and Claudia, picured to the right of Bob, testified their faith to the La Esperanza community as they marched in the parade.

 "Of my 37 years of being a Christian, this is the first Day of the Bible parade that I have participated in", said Fatima (dressed in black and white).                   

Community members leaned over their home or business balconies allowing us to greet them and encourage them in their faith walk.  

The men from our church's drug and alcohol rehabilitation program carried high the banners of Jesus.  Many of our city's police force observed the parade as they assisted us.  Others had a bird's eye view from the walls of our city's prison. 

Contemporary Christian music, Biblical encouragement as well as the preaching of God's Word rang through the downtown area as all the parade participants shared in a street service. 

God is very clear in His word. He says "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession" Psalms 2:8.  Join with us in asking God to give us all of La Esperanza for his inheritance - salvation from sin now, and eternal life with Him forever.